September Chicago Fire youth development update

CHICAGO - The Chicago Fire Juniors, leading the way in youth development within MLS, is pleased to announce the Chicago Fire Juniors will be holding its 2005 High School Boys tryouts in October. Meanwhile, Fire Juniors youth teams from Chicago to Michigan already in play during the Fall 2005 season have brought home various awards from some of the Midwest's top club cup tournaments during a busy month of September.

Chicago Fire Juniors High School Boys Tryouts Scheduled for Oct. 16

The Chicago Fire Juniors will be holding their High School Boys U-15 through U-19 tryouts on Saturday, Oct. 16 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. CT at Seven Gables Park in Wheaton, IL on Fields A, B, C, & D. The Chicago Fire Juniors high school aged boys squads have tasted success since the club's inception in 2003, making it to both the 2005 U-17 State Cup Final and the U-19 State Cup Semifinals. The U-16's have trained in Mexico alongside the Fuerzas Basicas, the prestigious youth development system of Mexican First Division sister club Monarcas Morelia, while also participating in the N.I.S.L Premiership Division. Fire Juniors players are also exposed to the Fire's Senior team training sessions and coaching staff, which has helped produce over 15 college scholarship players in just two years time.

In case of inclement weather for the Oct. 16 tryout, a rain date has been tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 23 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at Seven Gables Park. Those who are not able to make the scheduled tryout date due to an unavoidable conflict must contact Scott Meineke to register for the supplemental tryout on Saturday, Oct. 30 from 4:00-5:30 p.m. at Seven Gables Park. Only those approved to attend will be admitted to the supplemental tryout. For more information, including a map to the tryout location, please visit www.chicagofirejuniors.com.

Chicago Fire Juniors Show Well in 25th Annual Palatine Celtic Cup

Congratulations to the Chicago Fire Juniors U-17 Red Girls, U-16 Red Girls, and U-14 White Boys squads for taking home first place in the 25th Annual Palatine Celtic Cup, which took place in Palatine, IL over Labor Day weekend. Three more teams - the U-14 Red Girls, U-18 Red Girls, and U-11 Red Girls - made the finals in their age group and finished second, while the U-12 Red Girls posted a 2-0-2 record in the tournament without allowing a goal, but was kept out of the final due to lack of points. More congratulations go out to the U-16 Red Girls for winning the Celtic Cup's Sportsmanship Award, making this the second year straight a Chicago Fire Juniors team has taken home the honor.

CFJ U-14 Boys "Best of the Midwest"

Roughly 200 club teams from throughout the Midwest and USYSA Region II area, most registered with USYSA, US Club Soccer, and Super Y-League, met at one of the nation's top youth tournaments last weekend at the Polo Fields in Naperville, IL for the Boys Fall 2005 Best of the Midwest Tournament. The Chicago Fire Juniors Red U-14 Boys proved it was tops in the "Premiership" division, beating Canton Oaks Premier of Canton, MI in the championship by a score of 1-0. The CFJ Red U-14 Boys showed consistently strong play over the entire weekend, scoring a remarkable 16 goals while conceding a stingy zero. A great team defensive effort from the U-14's, capped with numerous scoring opportunities created on both ends, made for a fantastic final and another positive result for the Fire Juniors program.

West Michigan Fire Juniors U-15 Girls: 2005 Puma Gold Cup Finalists

186 teams from eight different states - including one National Champion, numerous State Cup champions and finalists, and some of the nations top ranked clubs and teams - convened in Naperville, IL during the first weekend of September for the 2005 Puma Gold Cup, sponsored by www.NationalSoccerRanking.com. The West Michigan Fire Juniors U-15 Girls made an impressive showing, becoming the only Michigan team to make it to the "Puma Flight" finals in any age or gender. Beginning with a disappointing 2-2 tie in their opening game of group play, despite holding a 15-2 shot advantage against the Rockford Dactyls, they bounced back with convincing wins over Libertyville 5-0 and the Eclipse 2-0 to clinch a spot in the finals against Strikers FV, who outscored their opposition 14-0 in group play. The WMFJ's were up for the challenge and battled in the intense heat after only a 3 1/2 hour rest between games, but eventually conceded a hard fought 2-1 loss to the Strikers.

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